Category: FAMILY

White House brief to strike down DOMA shows support of same-gender parenting

February 22, 2013

Same-sex couples who have committed to marriage  are  fully capable of responsible parenting and child-rearing. By Melanie Nathan Feb. 22, 2013 President Obama’s administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act in a brief filed Friday, declaring the 1996 federal law to be unconstitutional. Arguing that Section 3 of DOMA, … More White House brief to strike down DOMA shows support of same-gender parenting

THANK YOU President Obama for filing Brief to Strike Down DOMA

February 22, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 22, 2013. Activists in the U.S.A. have hoped that the Obama administration would take the imperative step of standing behind the promise for equality.  Now we can truly thank President Obama as the administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act in a brief filed Friday, … More THANK YOU President Obama for filing Brief to Strike Down DOMA

Princes William and Harry remind us of HIV/AIDS stigma

February 12, 2013

“Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry have kindly written to us to celebrate 30 years of our fight against HIV,” notes the Terrence Higgins Trust, beside a heartwarming picture on the charity’s website, reminding of their mother, Princess Diana and how she broke barriers by embracing people with HIV and AIDS around … More Princes William and Harry remind us of HIV/AIDS stigma

Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

February 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 07, 2013. The Defense of Marriage Act  (DOMA) defines marriage as between a man and woman only, and so a same-sex American spouse (citizen or resident) cannot petition for a foreign spouse to obtain a green card and citizenship.   That means that married same-sex couples cannot benefit from the same Federal … More Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth

January 29, 2013

Lost-n-Found – A do it yourself homeless queer youth shelter By Cathy Kristofferson, January 29, 2013.  Update Feb. 7 2013: Creating Change ’13 Conference session handout. In the fall of 2011 I saw posts online about a new queer youth shelter opening in Atlanta.  Local homeless queer youth were being turned away from shelters and … More Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth

Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

January 27, 2013

Help Youth on Rock Find a Home and a Safe house by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. I reported the unlawful arrest of a young leader from the human rights group in Uganda, Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF), around New Year’s Eve, after the break in at SMUG’s offices, where computers containing sensitive information were … More Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

Conversion Therapy Ban Bill filed in Massachusetts

January 18, 2013

Massachusetts seeks to become the next state to ban conversion therapy for minors By Cathy Kristofferson, January 18, 2013. Today, Massachusetts joined California in the fight against harmful ex-gay conversion/reparative therapy for minors under the age of 18.  Representative Carl Sciortino (D – 34th Middlesex District) filed “An Act Relative to Abusive Practices to Change … More Conversion Therapy Ban Bill filed in Massachusetts

Oxford Union Students want gay parents in huge debate win

January 17, 2013

No Scott Lively and “this house would be glad to have gay parents” By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2012. Gay parenting won the Oxford Union debate this Thursday evening, with a resounding majority happy to have gay parents. The topic “this house would be glad to have gay parents”,  was debated at the traditional Thursday … More Oxford Union Students want gay parents in huge debate win

Hundreds of thousands of French Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims protest at Eiffel Tower against Gay Marriage

January 13, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2013. The Eiffel Tower was not looking so friendly to Paris and Gays today as several hundred thousand people  converged on the Eifel Tower in Paris on Sunday to protest against President Francois Hollande’s plan to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption by June, 2013. Many came after long train and … More Hundreds of thousands of French Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims protest at Eiffel Tower against Gay Marriage

Homeless queer youth | the Massachusetts Special Commission

January 9, 2013

Can Massachusetts be a case study to improve the odds for homeless queer youth? By Cathy Kristofferson, January 09, 2013. The epidemic of homeless queer youth is an issue I’ve followed and advocated for because to me our youth are the most vulnerable among us.  They are empowered by our successes and are coming out younger and … More Homeless queer youth | the Massachusetts Special Commission

Israel MP performs gay marriages as protest

January 4, 2013

To protest claims same-sex marriage will destroy the Jewish people Mock gay weddings preformed outside Tel Aviv’s Rabbinical court in protest of a ring-wing religious candidate stating that they would destroy the Jewish people 04 January 2013 | By Dan Littauer, Andrew Potts, VIA GAYSTAR News Following a statement by a religious right-wing electoral candidate … More Israel MP performs gay marriages as protest

Sandy Hook Brings Families Out of the Mental Health Closet | I am Adam Lanza’s Sister

December 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, December 18, 2012. Since the Sandy Hook tragedy there has been a dramatic shift in the discussion about guns in America, with some remarkable statistics coming from the NRA, now showing that their membership favors stronger gun control, even though their operatives continue to lobby against. It took twenty dead seven year … More Sandy Hook Brings Families Out of the Mental Health Closet | I am Adam Lanza’s Sister

Seattle Celebrates first Same-Sex Marriages

December 9, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, December 09, 2012. Long overdue equality arrived today at Seattle City Hall. The City of Seattle celebrated the first day of Washington state’s same-sex marriage by hosting 150 weddings in City Hall. The event was attended by the Mayor of Seattle, Mayor Michael McGinn and his wife Peggy Levessque, who walked around … More Seattle Celebrates first Same-Sex Marriages

Uganda’s Parliamentary Process | How Easy to Pass The Anti-Homosexuality Bill

December 1, 2012

As of Dec 03, 2012, this is what is left of the process needed to pass The AHB By Melanie Nathan, December 01, 2012. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is first on the Order Papers in Uganda’s Parliament and could proceed as early as Monday December 03, 2012.  How long the Bill, otherwise known as The Kill … More Uganda’s Parliamentary Process | How Easy to Pass The Anti-Homosexuality Bill

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

November 29, 2012

Queer feminist human rights defenders face a range of unimaginable challenges Today 29th/Nov is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (IWHRDD). Several Human Rights defenders and activists from all over the word met 7years ago, in Colombo Sri Lanka to celebrate, raise awareness acknowledge the works and to discuss the situation of women human rights … More INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

A Lesbian’s Statement to Uganda’s Parliament and Speaker Kadaga

November 29, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 27, 2012. PUBLIC STATEMENT OF MELANIE NATHAN, COMMISSIONER, Mother,  Sister, Daughter, Human Rights Commissioner, Marin County, U.S.A., Family Law Mediator and Human Rights Advocate. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members of Uganda’s Parliament:- When I was in my early twenties I  realized that I was a lesbian.  I tried marriage to a … More A Lesbian’s Statement to Uganda’s Parliament and Speaker Kadaga

Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill on way to Parliament from Committee

November 23, 2012

Watch for protests to Start Next Week in U.S.A. By Melanie Nathan, November 23, 2012. The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill is closer to entering the Parliament and likely to be heard next week.  It has been on the Paper Orders (Agenda) for the past two days. The Bill will leave the committee and will not be … More Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill on way to Parliament from Committee

Lesbian Mom Answers Oprah Hurt Me to Oprah’s Weekly Lifeclass Question

October 7, 2012

Oprah Invites Rick Warren to teach Lifeclass – “Oprah perhaps you do not understand the extent to which LGBT Americans are impacted by the denial of our basic civil rights,” Melanie Nathan By Melanie Nathan, Oct 07, 2012. That lesbian mom is me. Oprah’s Lifeclass site asks its usual weekly question  “Are you hurting an … More Lesbian Mom Answers Oprah Hurt Me to Oprah’s Weekly Lifeclass Question

Defending the Gay Family at Installtion of San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone

October 6, 2012

Anti-gay Catholic Archbishop Cordileone Installed amidst noisy protests By Melanie Nathan, Oct 05,2012. Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone was one of the major voices in the campaign to pass the discriminatory Proposition 8 in California. He is the head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for the Defense of Marriage, whose purpose has … More Defending the Gay Family at Installtion of San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone

Minnesotans Against Marriage Amendment Launch Must Watch Vote No Video

September 5, 2012

Help “PROJECT KNOW” VIDEO got Viral AGAINST THE MINNESOTA MARRIAGE AMENDMENT By Melanie Nathan, September 05, 2012. A group of Minnesotans against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, have come together to form “Project Know.” Fighting for the freedom of LGBT  citizens and using the power of social media, the group is urging people to “know to … More Minnesotans Against Marriage Amendment Launch Must Watch Vote No Video

Trial Begins in Ex Lesbian Lisa Miller Child Abduction Case against Accomplice Kenneth Miller

August 9, 2012

Supporters of the accused – call case the “evil Agenda of LGBT advocacy groups “BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST THE EVIL AGENDA OF HOMOSEXUAL ADVOCACY GROUPS WHO ARE TRYING TO DESTROY GOD’S PERFECT DESIGN FOR THE FAMILY: MARRIAGE=ONE MAN/ONE WOMAN!” Melanie Nathan, August 09, 2012 Jury selection is to begin Tuesday in the criminal … More Trial Begins in Ex Lesbian Lisa Miller Child Abduction Case against Accomplice Kenneth Miller

Vietnam Considers Law for Same-Sex Unions

July 29, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 29,2012. I have always thought of  the Vietnamese as pragmatists when it comes to the law. Associated Press is reporting that the Vietnamese are considering the possibility of registering unions for same-sex couples. Homosexuality is a sensitive subject in Vietnam, as in most Asian countries, yet the Ministry of Justice has … More Vietnam Considers Law for Same-Sex Unions

Gays can defeat Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy employing true American Values

July 29, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 29, 2012 By now you have all read that the inventors of the chicken sandwich, Chick-Fil-A, have gone cuckoo, with clucked anti-gay cluck by owner Dan Cathy, who said the company was “guilty as charged” in its stance against same-sex marriage and equality.  He made  gay-hate comments which fueled protests by … More Gays can defeat Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy employing true American Values

Republicans Denounce Lesbian Commitment Ceremony on Louisiana Miltitary Base

June 9, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, June 09, 2012 NEW ORLEANS  In no great surprise two Republican congressmen denounced a same-sex commitment ceremony held at the Army’s Fort Polk training base in Louisiana, asserting that it violated Defense Department policy. Following last year’s repeal of its “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the Defense Department said chaplains at military … More Republicans Denounce Lesbian Commitment Ceremony on Louisiana Miltitary Base

California Prop 8 on the Way to Victory Revisiting My Child’s Wounds

June 6, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, June 05, 2012 We are on  the home stretch of Proposition 8’s wild ride through the Courts with a set of victories that will either reinstate same-sex marriage for Californians or result in the Supreme Court of the United States hearing the case. I wrote a very personal article back in 2009 … More California Prop 8 on the Way to Victory Revisiting My Child’s Wounds

Gay Marriage Watch this Week

June 2, 2012

  USA: President Obama Issues Proclamation for Gay Pride Month (LGBTQ Nation) The White House on Friday issued this proclamation by President Barack Obama, declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, calling on Americans to “eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.” http://purpleunions.com/blog/2012/06/usa-president-obama-issues-proclamation-for-gay-pride-month.html USA: … More Gay Marriage Watch this Week